Embedded Files
Creativity and Creative Thinking
Life Competencies: Creative Thinking
Stimulating the Mind: Exploring Creativity and Creativity at Work
Creativity and creative thinking are the engine of active learning, transforming the passive intake of information into a dynamic, engaging process. Creativity sparks original ideas and empowers learners with fresh perspectives, while creative thinking provides the structured strategies necessary to tackle problems and connect concepts in innovative ways. Together, they enable deeper understanding and make learning truly transformative — not just about knowing, but about imagining, building, and evolving.
Although deeply intertwined, it helps to view them as two distinct yet complementary forces:
Think of creativity as the spark of innovation — the raw potential — and creative thinking as the practical toolkit that channels that spark into purposeful action. As we explore these concepts, you’ll discover how they shape not only personal expression but also professional success, collaboration, and lifelong learning.
Cycle 1 ▶Exploring creativity
Cycle 2 ▶Ideas that work
Functions
Describing job qualifications
Offering solutions to problems
Commenting on facts
Analyzing reasons
Grammar
Reduced relative clauses
Non-defining relative clauses as sentence modifiers
Vocabulary
Qualities of creative people
Collocations related to problem solving
Speaking
Describing jobs that require creativity
Taking a creativity quiz
Suggesting new uses for everyday items
Talking about creative thinking habits
Choosing the inventions that have had the greatest impact on modern life
Explaining why new products are invented
Listening
Three employees explain how their jobs are creative
Two descriptions of important business and product ideas
Writing
Choosing when to begin a new paragraph
Writing a composition about a creative or unique person
Reading
"The Man Who Taught the World to Sing": A profile of the man who invented karaoke
VOCABULARY
Nouns
Qualities of creative people
curiosity
decisiveness
determination
discipline
innovation
knowledge
motivation
originality
passion
patience
perceptiveness
resourcefulness
Adjectives
Qualities of creative people
curious
decisive
determined
disciplined
innovative
knowledgeable
motivated
original
passionate
patient
perceptive
resourceful
Verbs
Collocations for problem solving
analyze a problem
analyze a situation
analyze information
explore alternatives
explore possibilities
find a mistake
find a problem
find a solution
find alternatives
find information
make a mistake
organize information
solve a problem
Additional vocabulary
get-together
in tune
karaoke
obscurity
patent
take something in stride means to handle difficulties calmly without letting them disrupt your actions.
Cycle 1 ▶Exploring Creativity
See relative clauses and non-defining relative clauses as sentence modifiers to talk about different kinds of creativity.
⬜ 1 STARTING POINT 🛃Creative professions
⬜ 2 VOCABULARY 🏈Creative qualities
⬜ 3 GRAMMAR 🔃Reduced relative clauses
⬜ 4 DISCUSSION 🔦Creativity quiz
⬜ 5 LISTENING 🔊 Creativity at work
⬜ 6 WRITING 📝 Beginning new paragraphs
1 STARTING POINT Creative professions
Learning objective: discuss creative professions and see reduced relative clauses in context (10-15 minutes)
DEBATE Creativity
"Creativity is only necessary for people who work in occupations such as design, photography, and the arts."
Jobs that require creativity
Jobs that typically don't require creativity
Creative professions
A Pair work How much creativity do you think these jobs require? Number them from 1 (most creative) to 4 (least creative). Explain your choices.
chef
surgeon
photographer
jazz musician
"I think a chef has to be the most creative. Inventing new dishes requires a lot of creativity."
B Group work Which jobs might be right for these kinds of people?
Discuss your answers
1. someone able to think quickly
2. a person looking for adventure
3. people good with their hands
4. someone needing jobs security
5. a person trained in music
6. a person with a good voice
"Someone able to think quickly might be a good surgeon. You never know what might go wrong once the operation starts."
Jobs that require creativity
Graphic designer
Advertising executive
Fashion designer
Architect
Film director
Music composer
Writer
Marketing strategist
User experience (UX) designer
Chef
Jobs that typically don't require creativity
Data entry clerk
Cashier
Warehouse worker
Janitor
Security guard
Assembly line worker
Telemarketer
Parking attendant
Toll booth operator
Delivery driver
An assembly line worker builds products by assembling parts with tools and machinery.
A toll booth operator collects money from drivers on toll roads, bridges, tunnels, or ferries.
2 VOCABULARY Creative qualities
Learning objective: learn and practice using nouns and adjectives to talk about creativity (10-15 minutes)
Think of creative people. Are there any qualities they share?
Creative qualities
What qualities do creative people usually have? Complete the chart with the correct nouns or adjectives.
Which of the above qualities are most important to your job?
B Pair work Which of the qualities in the chart are most important to your job or studies? Discuss with a partner.
"Well, I'm studying engineering, and we get a lot of assignments, so I have to be very disciplined. It's a very competitive field."
VOCABULARY PLUS Qualities of creative people
Match the correct words to complete the sentences.
a. decisive
b. resourceful
c. determined
d. knowledgeable
e. originality
f. discipline ✓
1. Nora has the (f) discipline to practice daily to achieve her dream of becoming an opera singer.
2. The director was _____ when he chose the actors for the cast. He chose quickly, and didn't ask anyone back for a second audition.
3. Ellie has been on several archeological digs in Asia and is _____ about ancient Chinese and Korean cultures.
4. Pablo is _____ to complete five paintings to enter in the art competition this spring.
5. Gino is _____ in his business; for example, he uses recycled materials to build homes.
6. Chad's science fiction stories are set 500 years in the future and show great _____ .
Check
1. f 2. a 3. d 4. c 5. b 6. e
___ curious ___ flexible ___ imaginative ___ observant ___ open-minded ___ passionate
Leila is incredibly _____; she often comes up with ideas no one else has considered.
Theo is _____ about how things work — he’s always asking questions and exploring new topics.
Maya is _____ when plans change; she adapts quickly and finds new ways to move forward.
Amir is very _____; he notices small details that others often overlook.
Sofia is _____ about photography and spends hours experimenting with lighting and composition.
Jordan is _____ and enjoys hearing different perspectives before making decisions.
Check
Nora has the (f) discipline to practice daily to achieve her dream of becoming an opera singer.
The director was (a) decisive when he chose the actors for the cast. He chose quickly, and didn't ask anyone back for a second audition.
Ellie has been on several archeological digs in Asia and is (d) knowledgeable about ancient Chinese and Korean cultures.
Pablo is (c) determined to complete five paintings to enter in the art competition this spring.
Gino is (b) resourceful in his business; for example, he uses recycled materials to build homes.
Chad's science fiction stories are set 500 years in the future and show great (e) originality.
Leila is incredibly (g) imaginative; she often comes up with ideas no one else has considered.
Theo is (h) curious about how things work — he’s always asking questions and exploring new topics.
Maya is (i) flexible when plans change; she adapts quickly and finds new ways to move forward.
Amir is very (j) observant; he notices small details that others often overlook.
Sofia is (k) passionate about photography and spends hours experimenting with lighting and composition.
Jordan is (l) open-minded and enjoys hearing different perspectives before making decisions.
3 GRAMMAR Reduced relative clauses
Learning objective: practice using reduced relative clauses (20-25 minutes)
Do you know how to make sentences shorter? Can we shorten sentences that describe people?
Reduced relative clauses
who / that + be
▶ You can shorten a relative clause by dropping the relative pronoun and the verb be.
Someone (who / that is) able to think quickly might be a good surgeon.
A person (who / that is) looking for adventure could be a private detective.
A person (who / that is) trained in music might be a good DJ.
▶ You can also drop who / that and change the verb to the gerund.
Someone who / that needs job security might not want to be a jazz musician.
Someone needing job security might not want to be a jazz musician.
who / that + has
▶ In many relative clauses, who / that / has can be replaced by with.
A person who / that has a good voice could be a good TV journalist.
A person with a good voice could be a good TV journalist.
A Look at the Starting Point Creative professions. Can you make the reduced relative clauses in part B into full clauses? What verb forms do the full clauses use?
1 -
2 -
3 -
4 -
5 -
6 -
B Rewrite these sentences with reduced relative clauses. Then compare with a partner.
1. Someone who hopes to be a chef should get the proper training.
Someone hoping to be a chef should get the proper training.
2. Anyone who wants to be an actor needs both talent and luck.
-
3. A person who works as a comedian is always looking for new ways to make people laugh.
-
4. People who are clever enough to get inside the mind of a criminal would make good detectives.
-
5. Anyone who dreams of becoming a champion athlete has to be prepared to do a lot of hard work.
-
6. Someone who is interested in the latest music trends might be a good DJ.
-
7. A person who is responsible for a large staff has to be able to be creative with scheduling.
-
C Complete these sentences using reduced relative clauses and your own ideas.
1. …………… needs to take voice lessons.
Someone dreaming of becoming a professional singer needs to take voice lessons.
2. …………… should speak English as much as possible.
-
3.…………… should keep up with current events.
-
4. …………… doesn't need to have a good speaking voice.
-
5. …………… should follow the latest trends in clothing.
6. …………… has to study the behavior of animals.
-
7. …………… usually have a great love of food and eating.
-
8. …………… will find the job market extremely competitive.
-
Reduced relative clauses
▶Non-defining relative clauses with be can be reduced in the same way as defining relative clauses. Notice the use of commas.
Albert Einstein, who is thought to be one of the greatest minds of the twentieth century, struggled in school.
Albert Einstein, thought to be one of the greatest minds of the twentieth century, struggled in school.
David E. Kelley, who is well known for his television courtroom dramas, used to be a lawyer.
David E. Kelley, well known for his television courtroom dramas, used to be a lawyer.
1 Rewrite these sentences using reduced relative clauses.
1. The photographer who lives upstairs has won many awards for his creativity.
-
2. Professional cooking, which is considered a tough business, requires both patience and skill.
-
3. Movie stars who are constantly hounded by the press deserve more privacy.
-
4. Roger Federer, who is ranked among the world’s best tennis players, is considered very disciplined.
-
5. The Summer Olympics, which are held every four years, are broadcast around the world.
-
6. Children who are talented at music should take private lessons if possible.
-
2 Complete the sentences. Rewrite them as one sentence containing a reduced non-defining relative clause.
1. Lady Gaga is generally believed to be very confident and professional.
-
2. Yohji Yamamoto is famous for his modern fashion designs. He often uses the color black.
-
3. Jessica Alba has been interested in acting since the age of five. She first appeared in a film at the age 13.
-
4. The movie Twilight was adapted from a novel by Stephenie Meyer. It stars Robert Pattinson.
-
5. Mark Zuckerberg is celebrated for creating Facebook. He attended Harvard University.
-
6. Justin Bieber is originally from Canada. He began his professional singing career in the U. S.
-
7. Tim Berners-Lee is credited with inventing the Web. He published the first website in 1991.
-
8. Jamie Oliver is known for his food-focused TV shows. He advocates healthier food in schools.
-
3 Complete the sentences on the left with the phrases on the right. Choose two phrases for each sentence.
1. A person who works as a fashion designer should be …b……. and ……d…. .
2. A person who is working as an accountant has to be ………. and ………. .
3. A person who works as a forest ranger needs to be ………. and ………. .
4. A person who is working as a taxi driver must be ………. and ………. .
a. a good driver
b. aware of trends
c. knowledgeable about plants and animals
d. familiar with different styles
e. good with numbers
f. familiar with city streets
g. physically fit
h. very accurate
5 Now rewrite the sentences with reduced relative clauses.
- A person working as a fashion designer should be aware of trends and familiar with different styles.
4 DISCUSSION 🔦Creativity quiz
Learning objectives: discuss personal creativity and practice the lesson VOCABULARY (15-20 minutes)
How Creative Are You?
Complete the quiz. Check ✅. 3 always 2 sometimes 1 rarely 0 never
⬜3 always ⬜2 sometimes ⬜ 1 rarely ⬜0 never
1. Are you a risk taker?
2. Are you naturally curious?
3. Do you look for opportunities to improve things?
4. Are you sensitive to beauty?
5. Do you challenge accepted ideas?
6. Do you keep an eye out for new fashions and products?
7. Do you adapt easily to new situations?
8. Do you trust your guesses, intuitions, and insights?
9. Are you more interested in the future than in the past?
10. Do you have a creative sense of humor?
VOCABULARY
risk taker: someone who does things without worrying about the consequences
sensitive to: aware of and affected by something
keep an eye out for: watch for something
intuitions: knowledge gained by internal feelings rather than external evidence
insights: clear, deep understanding of a complicated problem or situation
open-minded: not afraid of new ideas
status quo: the way things are in the present, without change
feel (something) out: ask for other people's opinions before making a decision
tried-and-true: proven to work well
Add up your score. Then check what your score means below. Do you agree?
21-30
Because you're open-minded, you like to keep up with the latest trends and innovations. Accepting the status quo bores you. You see mistakes as learning experiences.
11-20
You often have good ideas, but you prefer to feel them out with friends before taking action. You're up-to-date with new fashions and products, but unlikely to be the first in your group to try them.
0-10
You prefer to stick with the tried-and-true, which helps you feel safe, but you may get left behind in later years. You're content with who you are and what you know.
5 LISTENING 🔊 Creativity at work
Learning objective: Develop skills in LISTENING for gist and details (15-20 minutes)
gist: the main subject, without details, of a piece of information
A 🔊Listen to Samira, Alex, and Naomi talking about their occupations.
What does each person do?
B 🔊Listen again. Does Samira (S), Alex (A), or Naomi (N) do these things?
Write the correct letter.
______ 1. stay on top of trends
______ 2. answer the phones
______ 3. work long hours
______ 4. help clients decide what looks best
______ 5. think about the competition
______ 6. present ideas to clients
6 WRITING 📝 Beginning new paragraphs
Learning objective: learn how and when to begin new paragraphs and write a three-paragraph composition (40-45 minutes)
Focus is the central idea or topic of a paragraph.
Writers begin a new paragraph each time they change focus.
Each paragraph should contain only one central idea or topic.
Begin a new paragraph each time you change the focus of your ideas.
A Read this composition. The writer changes focus twice. Indicate with a P where the two new paragraphs should begin. Then compare answers with a partner.
Lucy Gomez is the most creative person I know. She started piano lessons when she was only four years old. At school, she was always creating interesting projects in her art class. When she was only 12 years old, she won a citywide poetry contest. Her parents were very proud of her. Lucy works as a sitcom writer for a popular TV show now. She works with a group of writers, and together they have to think of original ideas for stories. They also have to come up with funny dialogue for the actors on their show, because the actors have to play believable characters that will make the audience laugh. It is not an easy job, but Lucy does it well. She starts work late in the morning and often works until 7:00 or 8:00 at night. Lucy is very curious. She likes to travel and meet new people who have opinions that are different from hers. And she’s always noting ideas, drawing quick sketches, and taking photos. She tells me that doing these things helps her turn new experiences into a source of ideas for her work. I always enjoy talking to her and am happy to know someone as knowledgeable and creative as Lucy.
B Brainstorm ideas for a composition about someone who is very creative or who is unique or different in an interesting way. Answer these questions to help you.
1. In what ways is this person special or different?
2. How does this affect his or her life?
3. Would you like to be like this person? Why or why not?
C Write a three-paragraph composition based on your ideas.
D Pair work Read your partner’s composition and answer these questions.
1. Do the paragraphs start and end where they should?
2. Is the focus of each paragraph clear?
3. Is there any additional information you would like to know that was not included?
Check
Paragraph 2 begins at: Lucy works as a sitcom writer for a popular TV show now.
Paragraph 3 begins at: Lucy is very curious
1. Samira
Well, um, I guess I'd have to say that creativity is essential to my work. I'm an architect, and the creative part is looking at old things and trying to make them look new. What I mean is we recycle a lot of ideas and then adapt them to fit our needs. And, of course, we have to stay on top of new trends. We have to know all about new building styles and efficient ways to use energy - you know, uh, the kinds of things that homeowners worry about. No one wants a house that isn't heated or cooled efficiently, or one that looks outdated. And we work long hours. But I have to say, the job's pretty interesting. You never know what to expect next!
2.Alex
Well, I run my own small business. I think all business owners, especially small business owners, have to be pretty creative. I mean, we have to do everything. I do the work, answer the phones, take care of the accounts, whatever. And you know, there are so many potential problems, and there's no one else to turn to. I mean, I can't just ask my boss for help. I am the boss! The hardest part is figuring out how to identify your customers. Who are they? Where are they? How can you get to them? You also need to think creatively about the competition. How can you make your business services more attractive than what the competition has to offer? Well, it's certainly challenging, and I think it requires a lot of creativity.
3. Naomi
I'm an interior designer, so what I do is go into people's homes and create a suitable environment for them. You know - my clients - they don't know what they want, so I have to look at their homes and help them decide what would look best. Not every idea works in every home. You have to match the appropriate idea with the right place. So, after I come up with an idea, I present it to my client. Sometimes they don't like my first idea, and boy, that can be frustrating. You have to start all over again. So I need creativity to both come up with the ideas and to communicate them. Creativity also comes in handy when I want to convince a client that my idea is the best one. I don't always succeed, but I do manage to get my way a lot of the time.
Rewrite the sentences by making the reduced clauses into full clauses.
1. A person with great cooking and business skills would make a good restaurant owner.
A person who has great cooking and business skills would make a good restaurant owner.
NEXT Cycle 1 ⏩ Stimulating the mind WORKBOOK A
Cycle 2 ▶Ideas that work
⬜ 1 STARTING POINT 🍴Everyday objects
⬜ 2 VOCABULARY & SPEAKING 👅Exploring possibilities
⬜ 3 GRAMMAR Non-defining relative clauses as sentence modifiers
⬜ 4 SPEAKING 🛅Key inventions
⬜ 5 LISTENING 🔊 Great ideas
⬜ 6 DISCUSSION 🚣Making life better
⬜ 7 READING 📖A unique inventor and his invention
1 STARTING POINT 🍴Everyday objects
Learning objectives: discuss unusual uses for everyday objects and see the lesson GRAMMAR in context (10-15 minutes)
DISCUSSION about everyday objects usefulness.
Think of everyday objects that you find useful, such as flash lights, napkins, and cell phones.
Read the paragraphs silently.
VOCABULARY
sticky covered in as substance (like glue or honey) that causes something to attach to something else
rub press something against a surface with a repeated up and down or circular movement
ripen (/ˈraɪ.pən/) to (cause to) become ripe: The summer sunshine ripened the melons.
which is why explains why
B Group work Use your imagination to suggest new uses for these everyday items.
Decide on the best use for each and share it with the class.
old newspapers a shower curtain aluminum foil empty shoe boxes
dental floss a hair dryer empty jars or cans rubber bands
“You can wrap green tomatoes in newspaper to make them ripen more quickly.”
2 VOCABULARY & SPEAKING 👅Exploring possibilities
Learning objective: learn and practice using expressions related to problem solving (15-20 minutes)
Read the list of verbs and nouns in the boxes. Use the dictionary if necessary. Most verbs can be combined with more than one noun.
Verbs
analyze explore find
make organize solve
Nouns
a decision a mistake a problem a situation
a solution alternatives possibilities information
analyze a situation, solve a problem, . . .
B Pair work Discuss the questions. Then ask your partner more questions using the new vocabulary.
1. When do you make decisions quickly? When do you explore the possibilities first?
2. Who do you talk to when you need to find a solution to a big problem? Why?
3. When was the last time you analyzed a mistake you made? What did you learn from it?
Check
VOCABULARY Plus Collocations for problem solving
Choose the correct words to complete the text.
Groupware
If you ever worked for a multinational company in the past, you know that sometimes it could take hours just to set up a meeting with your colleagues. To help improve productivity, technology companies explored various ways to (1) find a mistake / find a solution to the problem. They studied the way people worked and (2) made a mistake / analyzed this information to figure out how companies might work together more effectively and efficiently. Technological innovators (3) explored the possibilities of / found problems for using networked computers and digital office tools. Eventually, they were able to (4) solve this problem / analyze the problem by designing groupware, which is software that helps groups of people work together and share information on the Internet. With groupware, colleagues can set up a meeting quickly and have meetings via video, across several continents. And electronic file-sharing systems allow workers to (5) find alternatives / organize information and share documents instantly. Problem solved!
Check
1. find a solution
2. analyzed this information
3. explored the possibilities of
4. solved this problem
5. organized information
How can one sentence tell two mini-stories?
How can you describe something without defining it?
3 GRAMMAR Non-defining relative clauses as sentence modifiers
Learning objective: practice using non-defining relative clauses as sentence modifiers (35 – 40 minutes)
Tablets are easy to carry,
People enjoy video games,
a. which means new titles come out all the time.
b. which is why many people travel with one.
Match the clauses to make sentences.
VOCABULARY
slob: a lazy, untidy, and often rude person
workroom: a room in a house that is used to build things, usually small carpentry projects
GPS (Global Positioning System): an electronic device that maps out a route to a destination
▶ Non-defining relative clauses as sentence modifiers
You can use non-defining relative clauses with which to make a comment about an entire sentence.
I have three cats, which means there's usually a lot of cat fur on my clothes.
My roommate is a slob, which is why I want to get my own apartment.
In these relative clauses, the relative pronoun which doesn't refer to a particular noun, rather to the whole idea in the main clause.
Non-defining relative clauses are always the second clauses in a two-clause sentence. Because these clauses are non-defining, they are set off from the main clause by a comma.
This type of non-defining relative clause adds information or a comment that applies to the first clause, but it is not essential information. Therefore, it is set off by a comma.
That cannot be used to begin a non-defining relative clause.
A Look at the STARTING POINT Everyday objects. Can you find more examples of these grammar patterns? How are the commas used?
B Match these statements with the appropriate non-defining clauses. Then compare with a partner and write two similar statements of your own.
1. I want to give away all my old books, h
2. I had locked my keys in my car, __
3. I've been exploring possibilities for natural cleaners, __
4. My son made a robot costume for himself, __
5. Our neighbor saves her empty jars for my dad, __
6. I downloaded a great new app that helps me organize information, __
7. It's easy to get lost when driving in a new city, __
8. Adam has bought some expensive software to edit videos, __
a. which is why you saw me opening it with a coat hanger.
b. which is great since he uses them to store nails and things in his workroom.
c. which is great because I think it's solved my problem of forgetting where I store files.
d. which is why I was wiping lemon juice and salt on those copper pots.
e. which is one reason why GPS systems were developed for cars.
f. which is why he was covered in aluminum foil yesterday.
g. which is strange since there are plenty of free programs that do that well.
h. which means I have to get boxes for them.
I want to give away all my old books, which means I have to get boxes for them.
Grammar Plus Non-defining relative clauses as sentence modifiers
▶ Non-defining relative clauses can be used as sentence modifiers and can contain almost any verb.
Some of the most common ones are surprise, depress, encourage, suggest (that), contribute to, and resulted in.
▶ Note that the verbs which describe emotion must be followed by an object.
My husband refused to get a media player, which has resulted in a closet full of old CDs.
My teacher praised my English today, which encourages me to study harder.
My dad is happier since he took up golf, which suggests that hobbies are good both mentally and physically.
I learned how to clean jewelry with toothpaste, which depressed me because it meant I had wasted a fortune on expensive cleaners.
I've started making my own clothes, which has contributed to financial savings and a full closet!
1 Match these statements with the appropriate non-defining clauses.
1. I use dental floss to string beads for jewelry, _C_
2. My sister always loved school, __
3. Robert moved to a small town, __
4. I just had a big fight with Ana, __
5. Paul is really good at solving problems, __
6. Amy jogs every morning, __
7. I've had a private tutor for the past few months, __
8. The class I wanted to take is already full, __
a. which surprised us since he loves cities.
b. which has contributed to weight loss and more energy.
c. which is why I have so much of it.
d. which is why people always go to him for help.
e. which has resulted in better grades for me.
f. which encouraged her to go into teaching.
g. which means I'll have to explore alternatives in the course schedule.
h. which depressed me because she's my best friend.
2 Complete the sentences with a phrase from the box.
which resulted in which suggested which depressed
which encouraged which means which surprised
1. I'm working late tonight, which means I'll take a later train home.
2. My friend was in a local play, me to try acting.
3. Our team lost the championship, me and my friends.
4. Prices went down last year, savings for many people.
5. Ted sent me a nice birthday card, me since he usually doesn't do anything special for people's birthdays.
6. Dinner tasted terrible, that I didn't follow the recipe correctly.
4 SPEAKING 🛅Key inventions
Learning objectives: talk about inventions and practice the lesson grammar (10-15 minutes)
A What inventions or discoveries do you think have had the greatest impact on modern life? Make a list.
Make a list of inventions or discoveries you think have had the greatest impact on modern life.
the cellphone
the television
the airplane
B Group work Compare lists with your group.
“I think the cell phone has really affected people’s lives. People can talk wherever they are, which means they can always be in touch and save time.”
5 LISTENING 🔊 Great ideas
Learning objective: develop skills in LISTENING for details (15-20 minutes)
A Look at the pictures. What do you know about these products or services?
How do you think they were developed?
VOCABULARY
track-and-field a group of sports that includes running, jumping, and throwing objects
established in existence and successful for a long time
footwear shoes
refining improving in small but important ways
frustration annoyance and impatience
paperwork documents needed for a particular occasion or activity
overnight done during the night
B Listen to these stories about the invention and development of the products in the photos. Complete the chart.
Bill Bowerman Fred Smith
How he got the idea
The initial reaction to the idea
What the inventor did in response
6 DISCUSSION 🚣Making life better
Learning objective: give opinions about new products (15-20 minutes)
A Pair work Why do people create or invent new products? Read this list of reasons and add two more of your own.
• to help protect people’s health • to protect the environment
• to make business more efficient • to save lives
• to make daily life easier • _______________________
• to make life more enjoyable • _______________________
B Group work Join another pair. Why do you think these things were created or invented? Use the reasons in part A or others of your own.
1. air conditioners
2. artificial sweeteners
3. digital cameras
4. electric knives
5. hybrid cars
6. karaoke machines
7. laptops
8. lie detectors
9. scanners
"I think air conditioners were invented to protect people’s health. The summer heat can be deadly for infants and the elderly."
7 READING 📖A unique inventor and his invention
Learning objectives: develop skills in understanding VOCABULARY in context, READING to confirm predictions, and giving a personal reaction to a reading (25-30 minutes)
Do you like to sing?
Do you sing in your car, at home alone, or somewhere else?
What do you like to sing?
Can you guess what Daisuke Inoue (井上 大佑) invented?
A Read the title of the article. What do you think Daisuke Inoue invented?
Then read the article and check your answer.
VOCABULARY
carry a tune the ability to sing a song in the right key
loyal faithful
back-up tracks the recorded instrumental music to a song without the singing
amplifier an electronic device that makes sounds louder
patent get an official government certification that gives someone the exclusive rights to make money from his or her invention (such as an original machine, device, or piece of technology)
breaks the ice makes a potentially socially uncomfortable situation comfortable
take (something) in stride react calmly to something without anger or frustration
Daisuke Inoue was a drummer in a band near Osaka, Japan, that played versions of famous pop songs. People loved to sing along as the band played, but most of them couldn’t carry a tune. Inoue’s band had spent years learning how to make the untalented customer sound in tune by adjusting the music to match the customer’s voice. The singers, mainly Japanese businessmen out for a night on the
town, loved Inoue’s unique follow-along style.
In 1971, a loyal client asked Inoue to escort him on a company trip, but Inoue could not attend. He found a solution: he recorded his band’s back-up tracks, and then hooked up a car stereo and an amplifier. With this device, Inoue gave birth to the karaoke machine. By the 1980s, karaoke, which means “empty orchestra,” was a Japanese word that required no translation across the globe.
Unfortunately, Inoue never bothered to patent the world’s first karaoke machine, so he lost his chance to become one of Japan’s richest men. When asked if he regretted not patenting his invention, 65-year-old Daisuke Inoue confessed, “I’m not an inventor. I am just resourceful. I simply put things that already exist together. Who would consider patenting something like that?”
Inoue’s friend Robert Scott Field says, “Some people say he lost 150 million dollars. If it were me, I’d be crying in the corner, but he’s a happy guy. I think he’s amazed to find that he’s touched so many lives.” Inoue believes the little box he put together has had a huge social impact, especially in Japan. At weddings and company get-togethers, the karaoke comes out and people relax. It breaks the ice.
Although Inoue spent years in obscurity, in 1999, Time magazine called him one of the twentieth century’s most influential people, saying he had “helped to liberate the once unvoiced.” Inoue is always getting asked silly questions, but he takes them in stride. “Women approach me all the time and ask if I can help their husbands sing better. I always say that if her husband were any good at singing, he would be making a living at it. He’s bad, which means he’s just like the rest of us.”
Inoue didn’t use a modern karaoke machine until he was 59 years old, but his favorite English songs are “Love Is a Many Splendored Thing” and Ray Charles’ “I Can’t Stop Loving You.” “They’re easy, which is good because I’m a terrible singer,” said Daisuke Inoue, the man who taught the world to sing.
Source: "Mr. Song and Dance Man," by Dr. David McNeil, Sophia University, Tokyo.
B Group work Discuss these questions. Then share your answers with the class.
1. What led Daisuke Inoue to create his invention? Do you agree he was only being resourceful, or was he actually an inventor? Explain.
2. Would you have the same attitude as Inoue if you invented something popular and received no compensation? Why or why not?
3. How do you think Inoue “helped to liberate the once unvoiced” both as a drummer in his band and as the inventor of karaoke? Do you think this is a good thing? Explain.
Check
1. Since he could not accompany a client on a trip, he invented the device to go in his place.
Answers to the second question will vary.
2. Answers will vary.
3. Answers will vary.
WORKBOOK B
NEXT Cycle 2 ⏩ Stimulating the mind WORKBOOK Part B
Profile of an actor
Story summary
In this video, a man talks about why he became an actor. He starts by recounting an early childhood performance in a funny skit and explains that to become an actor, you have to have a passion for acting. He then talks about the erratic schedule of an actor and tracks his career progress from his training in theater to commercials. Next, he describes his least favorite acting job as being a mad scientist at an amusement park and his favorite acting job as performing in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Later, he says that the best part of being an actor is the feeling you get when you’ve performed well. In closing, he notes some of the traits an actor needs, such as having a lot of expression and a strong voice as well as
being someone who enjoys attention. He also adds that people who don’t enjoy being in the spotlight or need job security would not be good actors and says that he can’t see himself doing anything but acting.
Language summary
Grammar Reduced relative clauses
Non-defining relative clauses as sentence modifiers
Vocabulary
Qualities of creative people
Collocations related to problem solving
Before you watch
A In your opinion, which are the most important traits an actor needs? Choose the top 10 traits from the list.
⬜ adventurous
⬜ creative
⬜ curious
⬜ determined
⬜ enjoys attention
⬜ expressive
⬜ good-looking
⬜ innovative
⬜ lucky
⬜ motivated
⬜ organized
⬜ passionate
⬜ patient
⬜ physically fit
⬜ a strong voice
B Pair work Compare your answers. For each trait, discuss why or why not an actor would need that trait.
While you watch
A Choose the topics the actor mentions in the video.
⬜ 1. when he first knew he wanted to be an actor
⬜ 2. what working as a child actor is like
⬜ 3. what the schedule of an actor is like
⬜ 4. how to deal with the audition process
⬜ 5. how to handle tough competition
⬜ 6. the top school for acting training
⬜ 7. which kinds of acting work pay better
⬜ 8. his least favorite acting job
⬜ 9. the best costume he ever wore
⬜ 10. his favorite acting job
⬜ 11. what is best about being an actor
⬜ 12. traits that an actor should have
⬜ 13. how long an actor’s career usually is
⬜ 14. how many fans he has
B Complete the sentences with the correct words from the video.
1. “I needed an outlet . . . to have . . . to put out my side.”
2. “To become an actor, you have to have for the work.”
3. “You have to be really to get yourself up . . . every day, to get out there every day, and . . . give it your all.”
4. “To be an actor . . . you have to have a strong sense of and a lot of .”
5. “Someone who has a lot of would be a good actor.”
6. “Someone who has a really would be a great actor.”
7. “Someone who enjoys would be a great actor.”
C Choose the correct answers according to the information in the video.
1. The actor decided what he wanted to do for the rest of his life while performing ________.
⬜ a. at an amusement park ⬜ b. for the Cub Scouts ⬜ c. at the Boston Common
2. The real work of acting is ________.
⬜ a. dealing with auditions ⬜ b. performing in theaters ⬜ c. staying motivated
3. Because it pays more, is a better way to support an acting career ________.
⬜ a. theater work ⬜ b. film work ⬜ c. amusement park work
4. The actor really enjoyed a job where he ________.
⬜ a. was a comedian in Boston ⬜ b. did a Shakespeare play ⬜ c. worked on a big film
5. Patience is required to be an actor because ________.
⬜ a. it’s a hard lifestyle ⬜ b. it takes a long time to develop job security ⬜ c. it takes a while before it is fun
6. The actor thinks he will always be an actor because he ________.
⬜ a. feels he is determined and passionate ⬜ b. wants to show his family he can be successful ⬜ c. can’t see himself doing anything else
After you watch
A Pair work Discuss the questions.
1. Which of the traits from Before you watch part A does the actor in the video seem to have? Support and explain your answers.
2. Could you or someone you know be an actor? Think about the traits mentioned in the video and discuss why you feel this way.
B Other types of jobs might require different skills and traits. List five traits and the kinds of jobs in which they would be an advantage.
Trait Possible jobs
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C Writing Choose a job you listed in part B. Write a paragraph about the job and include at least three additional traits that would make someone good at it. Explain why each trait would be necessary for the job.
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